Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-23
0raut Grnutg 4erala;
THE REBEL FLAGS.
Cleveland Approves a Recommendation for their
Return and then Takes il all Back.

THE REBEL FLAGS.
Cleveland Approves Recommendation for thei
Return and then Takes it all Back.
The news that President Cleveland
had signed an order for the return O
the rebel flags to the states from which
they were captured threw the whole
North into a state of Indignation and
called forth from G. A. Il. Post and
Union soldiers everywhere indignant
protests. The following are the official
records of the affairs:
WASHINGTON, April 30.-Hon YIN! G. Endicott
Secretary IF Var: SIR:-I have the honor to
state that there are now in this Office, stored in
one of the attic rooms Of the building, a number
Of Union flags captured in action but recovered
on the fall of the Confederacy and forwarded to
the War Department for safe keeping together
with number Of Confederate flags, which the
fortunes OF war placed in our hands during the
action have always been taken on application, If
properly supported for the returning Of Union
flags to organizations representing survivors of
the military regiments in the seryice
of the Government, / beg to submit it wonld be
a graceful act TO anticipate further requests of
this nature, and venture to suggest the propriety
Of returning all the flags, Union and Confederate,
to the authorities Of the States in which the reg-
ments which bore these colOrs were organized
for such final disposition as they may determine,
while in all the civilized nations of the Old
World, trophies taken in wars against foreign
enemies have been carefully preserved and ex-
hibited as proud mementoes Of the nations mill
tary glory Over twenty years have elapsed
since the termination of the late civil war; many
of the prominent leaders, civil and military, of
the late Coufederacy are hoDored representatives
OF the people in the National Councils or in other
eminent positions, and lend their talents to the
wise administration Of the affairs OF the whole
country, and the people Of the several States
composing the Union are now united in treadiLg
a broader road to a glorious future.
Impressed with these facts, have the honor to
submit my suggestion, made in this letter, for
the careful consideration ii will receive at your
hands. Very truly yours, X Q. DRUM,
AdjutantGeneral
The endorsement of the secretary
upon this letter is as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT May &c, 1s5a-The within
recommendation is approved by the President,
and the Acknowledgement will prepare letters TO
the governors ofthose states who carried their
CoIors and flags now in this department, with
offers to return as herein proposed, the history
of each flag and circumstances of its recapture
to be given. VIM c. ENDICOTT,
Accordingly General Drum sent out
a circular letter, copy of which is
printed on the second page of this
paper.
PROTESTS.
At reception rendered to Gen. Fair
child, COMMUNICATIVE of the G.. A.
r., by the Alexander Hamilton Post of
New York, he made speech vehement
ly denouncing the order, He said that
in nine months past he had visited G.
A II. posts in every state in the north,
east and west, and he had never heard
anything but kindly feelings expressed
towards the men who had looked into
the gun-barrels of northern troops dur
ing the war As commander-in-ch
he had tried to encourage this kindly
feeling Now this was changed. The
time had come to speak in the name of
the organization. If he could not pro-
test against it as commander-in-chief of
the G. A. r. he would resign and pro-
test as private citizen. But he was
satisfied that $50, 900 G.. A. Il. veterans
would rise as one man in solemn pro-
test against any such disposition of the
trophies won at such fearful sacrifice
Of blood Raising his only hand, the
general said: Il appeal to the senti
ment of the nation to forbid this sac
rilege.'
A dispatch signed by Gen. II. G.
Hobart and twenty other prominent
Milwaukeeans was sent to Gov. Rusk
appealing to him to take steps to pre-
vent the carrying out Of the order. A
letter from Department Commander
Griffin was Of the same tenor.
Gov Rusk telegraphed the President
as follows:
wish to protest against the return of the
flags captured by tie Union troops to the states
from whose military organizations they were
captured lf these flags are to be surrendered
by the general gov eminent hope they will be
given To the states whose troops captured them
j, NJ RUSK Gov. of Wis.
Similar kilograms were sent from the
governors of several other states. Let
tiers denouncing the course of the Presi-
dent poured into the &. A. r. National
headquarters from all over the country,
and Indignation meetings were held in
many places.
ANOTHER VETO.
The cyclone was too much for the
President and lie sent to the secretary
of War the following:
have to-day considered with more care than
when the subject was orally presented me the
action Of your department directing letters to be
addressed to the Governors OF all the States Of
fcring to return, If desired, to the loyal States
the Union flags captured during the War of the
Rebellion by the Confederate forces and after
wards recovered by the Government troops, and
to the Confederate States the flags captured by
Union forces, all OF which for many years have
been packed in boxes and stored IN the cellar
aud attic OF the War Department. | am of the
opinion that the return OF the flags in the manner
thus contemplated is not authorized by existing
law nor justified as IN executive act. / request
therefore, that no further steps be taken in tht
matter except to examine and inventory these
flags and adopt proper measures for their preser
Walton. ANY direction ~ % the final disposition
ot them should originate With Congress
GROVER CLEN ELAND.